The Myth That Swallowing Your Tongue Is Possible
No one has ever swallowed their own tongue. The tongue is anchored to the floor of the mouth by the frenulum and cannot travel backward into the airway in any meaningful sense. The myth persists because people see someone's tongue move during a tonic-clonic seizure and assume it needs to be controlled. What happens when a bystander acts on this belief is the real danger: fingers, spoons, wallets, and sticks have all been forced into the mouths of seizing people across India, resulting in broken teeth, lacerations to the gums, jaw injuries, and bitten fingers. The correct action is nothing. Keep your hands away from the person's mouth. If the airway needs attention, it will be addressed once the seizure ends, by turning the person gently onto their side.
